64 OVOLA U. 



The Feejee Group is composed of seven districts, and is under as 

 many principal chiefs, viz. : 



1st. Ambau. 5th. Somu-somu. 



2d. Rewa. 6th. Naitasiri. 



3d. Verata. 7th. Mbua. 

 4th. Muthuata. 



All the minor chiefs on the different islands are more or less 

 connected or subject to one of these, and as the one party or the 

 other prevails in their wars, they change masters. War is the con- 

 stant occupation of the natives, and engrosses all their time and 

 thoughts. 



Ambau is now the most powerful of these districts, although it is 

 in itself but a small island on the coast, and connected with Viti- 

 levu ; but it is the residence of most of the great chiefs, and, as I 

 have before observed, Tanoa, the most powerful chief of all the 

 islands, lives there. The original inhabitants of Ambau were called 

 Kai Levuka, and are of Tonga descent. During the absence of most 

 of the natives on a trading voyage to Lakemba, the natives of Motu- 

 riki, a neighbouring island, made a descent upon Ambau, and took 

 possession of it, ever since which the Kai Levuka have remained a 

 broken people : they still retain their original name, but are now only 

 wandering traders ; they have no fixed place of residence, and are 

 somewhat of the character of the Jews. They reside principally at 

 Lakemba, Somu-somu, Vuna, and occasionally at other islands. Most 

 of the exchange trade is in their hands ; their hereditary chief resides 

 at Lakemba ; they are much respected, and when they visit Ambau, 

 they are treated with the best of every thing, in acknowledgment of 

 their original right to the soil. At Ambau there are now two classes, 



DO ' 



one known by the name of Kai Ambau, or original people of Ambau, 

 and the other as Kai Lasikau, who were introduced from a small 

 island near Kantavu, some sixty years since, to fish for the chiefs ; 

 these are considered as inferior to Kai Ambau, but are not exactly 

 slaves. About eight years before our arrival, dissensions arose between 

 these two classes, which resulted in Tanoa's being expelled and obliged 

 to seek refuge in another part of his dominions. 



According to Whippy, at the commencement of the present century, 

 Batnivi ruled at Ambau ; he was succeeded by his son Ulivou. At 

 this time Verata was the principal city of the Feejees, and its chiefs 

 held the rule : this city or town is about eight miles from Ambau, 



